Combination therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has been the subject of active investigation for more than a decade, with the benefit of targeting different pathways known to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Adherence to prescribed therapy has an impact on clinical outcomes. Reducing the pill/tablet count and frequency has a major impact on patients' adherence to therapies and therefore the observed clinical outcomes. One way to simplify treatment is to use fixed-dose combination (FDC) products that combine multiple treatments targeting different pathways into a single tablet. This study aims to demonstrate that the FDC of macitentan and tadalafil is more effective than therapy with 10 mg of macitentan alone or 40 mg of tadalafil alone. This phase 3 study will evaluate the efficacy and safety at 16 weeks of an FDC (macitentan 10 mg and tadalafil 40 mg) against these two PAH-approved therapies given as monotherapy to further confirm the added value of the FDC.
PAH is characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) potentially leading to right heart failure and death. Current PAH-specific therapeutic options include treatments that target the three pathways (endothelin, nitric oxide, and prostacyclin pathways). While combination treatment is common, FDC pills or tablets that combine two or more PAH-specific therapies are not available, thereby requiring participants to take multiple pills/tablets daily. An FDC is an attractive option for PAH participants because it simplifies the treatment regimen by combining two therapies (which would otherwise involve a total of three tablets: one macitentan 10 mg tablet and two tadalafil 20 mg tablets) into a single tablet. Macitentan is an orally active, non-peptide, potent dual endothelin receptor A and B antagonist. Tadalafil is a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5), the enzyme responsible for the degradation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This study comprises the following consecutive periods: Screening period (lasts up to 30 days), Double-blind treatment period (consists of the titration phase \[the first 2 weeks\] and the maintenance phase \[Week 3 through Week 16\]), Open-label treatment period, End-of-Treatment (EOT), Safety follow-up (S-FU) period, and End of Study (EOS). The total study duration for a participant will be up to 30 months. Study assessments like physical examinations, vital signs, right heart catheterization, 6-minute walk test will be performed. Safety will be assessed throughout the study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
187
Film-coated tablet with 10 mg macitentan and 40 mg tadalafil, to be administered orally once daily.
Film-coated tablet with 10 mg macitentan, to be administered orally once daily.
Film-coated tablet with 40 mg tadalafil (2 x 20 mg tablets), to be administered orally once daily.
Matching placebo not containing any active substance but otherwise identical in appearance to the respective active drug tablet, to be administered orally once daily.
Matching placebo not containing any active substance but otherwise identical in appearance to the respective active drug tablet, to be administered orally once daily.
Matching placebo not containing any active substance but otherwise identical in appearance to the respective active drug tablet, to be administered orally once daily.
Providence Medical Foundation
Fullerton, California, United States
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California, United States
Piedmont Healthcare
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
WellStar Health System
Marietta, Georgia, United States
OSF HealthCare Cardiovascular Institute
Peoria, Illinois, United States
Change in Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR) Expressed as the Ratio of Geometric Means of End of Double-blind Treatment (EDBT) to Baseline
Change in PVR expressed as the ratio of geometric means of EDBT to baseline were reported.
Time frame: Baseline, EDBT (up to 16 weeks)
Change From Baseline to EDBT in 6-minutes Walking Distance (6MWD)
Change from baseline to EDBT in 6MWD were reported. 6MWD was measured by 6-minute walk test (6MWT). The test measured the distance an individual was able to walk over a total of six minutes on a hard, flat surface with no obstacles. The goal was for the individual to walk as far as possible in 6 minutes.
Time frame: Baseline, EDBT (Week 16)
Change From Baseline in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Symptoms and Impact (PAH-SYMPACT) in Cardiopulmonary Symptom Domain Scores to EDBT
Change from baseline in PAH-SYMPACT in cardiopulmonary symptom domain scores to EDBT were reported. PAH-SYMPACT was a pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)-specific patient-reported outcomes questionnaire that consists of 11 symptoms items, 11 impacts items and 1 item on oxygen use. The symptom items were divided into cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular domains, and the impact items were divided into physical and emotional/cognitive domains. Cardiopulmonary symptoms contain 6 items; shortness of breath, fatigue, lack of energy, swelling in ankles or legs, swelling in stomach area, and cough. Scores for the individual items were reported on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 (no symptom at all) to 4 (very severe symptoms), with higher scores indicated greater symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline, EDBT (Week 16)
Change From Baseline in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Symptoms and Impact (PAH-SYMPACT) in Cardiovascular Symptom Domain Scores to EDBT
Change from baseline in PAH-SYMPACT in cardiovascular symptom domain scores to EDBT were reported. PAH-SYMPACT is a PAH-specific patient-reported outcomes questionnaire that consists of 11 symptoms items, 11 impacts items and 1 item on oxygen use. The symptom items were divided into cardiopulmonary and cardiovascular domains, and the impact items were divided into physical and emotional/cognitive domains. Cardiovascular symptoms contain 5 items; heart palpitations (heart fluttering), rapid heartbeat, chest pain, chest tightness, and lightheadedness. Scores for the individual items were reported on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 (no symptom at all) to 4 (very severe symptom), with higher scores indicated greater symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline, EDBT (Week 16)
Percentage of Participants With Absence of Worsening in World Health Organization (WHO) Functional Class (FC) From Baseline at EDBT
Percentage of participants with absence of worsening in FC from baseline to EDBT were reported. The study was adaptive with two stages: Stage 1 and Stage 2. WHO functional classification (FC), PAH range from Class I (no limitation in physical activity, no dyspnea or fatigue, chest pain, or near syncope with normal activity), Class II (slight limitation of physical activity), Class III (marked limitation of physical activity), Class IV (cannot perform a physical activity without any symptoms, dyspnea and/or fatigue at rest).
Time frame: At Week 16 (EDBT)
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University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Norton Healthcare
Louisville, Kentucky, United States
Sparrow Clinical Research Institute
Lansing, Michigan, United States
Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Washington University School Of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, United States
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